Bolton 1-1 Charlton Athletic

I'll be at this game with my Humbug Santa hat on, so if we don't win and you see some lunatic getting a lack of effort ponce in a headlock in the 18 yard box it's me.

Unless of course, Garty grows a pair, sacks Useless Doug and appoints Di Canio before Saturday.

Then it'd probably be him.

Forza Paulo !!!

I agree , get PDC here and Fuck Freedman off.

Di canios a fucking idiot, though him with sammy lee as assistant would be rather funny.   

Ref watch: Gibbs takes charge

Philip Gibbs will take charge of Wanderers’ clash with Charlton Athletic on Saturday afternoon.

A seasoned professional having been officiating games for over 10 years, the West Midlands based referee has taken the whistle for 11 games so far this term, dishing out 29 yellow and two red cards in the process.

The last time in which Gibbs refereed a Wanderers game was back on New Year’s Day when the Whites made the short trip to Yorkshire to face Leeds United, with the Elland Road outfit running out 1-0 winners.

Robert Ellis and Ricky Wootton will run the line for the game, while Scott Duncan will be the fourth official.

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Opposition watch: Charlton Athletic

A fixture which has been few and far between in recent years, Wanderers’ clashes with Charlton Athletic have certainly never been quiet affairs.

With just two stalemates between the two sides since their first meeting back in 1923, the Addicks’ relegation from the Premier League in 2007 meant that the teams would not lock horns again until last season’s clash at the Reebok Stadium – a game which saw the Whites run out 2-0 winners thanks to a late David Ngog brace.

Between their demotion from the top flight and Wanderers’ similar fate back in May 2012, the South London outfit had suffered another blow with relegation to League One in 2009 where they went onto spend three seasons.

A troublesome time for the club, there was to be light at the end of the tunnel in the form of an impressive promotion campaign last May – one which saw the Addicks clinch the league title with a record 101 points accumulated.

A remarkable upturn in fortunes for a club which at one point looked destined to remain in the third tier of English football for the foreseeable future, manager Chris Powell’s return to The Valley was undoubtedly crucial for Charlton.

Having enjoyed spells with the Addicks on three separate occasions, the former Southend United full-back – a firm fan favourite with the club’s supporters – led Charlton to a ninth place finish in their first season back in the Championship last term, just three points short of a play-off berth.

Despite their impressive return to the second tier last season however, the current campaign has proved to be more testing for the club, with the team currently residing in 21st position, a single point above the relegation zone.

Having strengthened their squad during the summer months – most notably with the arrival of seasoned striker Simon Church from Reading – many expected the Addicks to push for promotion once more, but ten defeats in their opening 20 games has halted the club’s progression.

With two wins at home and two away since the start of the season, consistency has proved to be a problem for Powell’s side, with last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at the hands of Derby their third reverse in four games.

Having overturned a two goal deficit when Wanderers travelled to the capital back in March however to run out 3-2 winners at The Valley, the Whites will certainly be aware of the threat which the Addicks pose come kick off on Saturday afternoon.

Richard Cawley – Charlton Athletic reporter for South London Press

“Charlton are in the kind of position that reflects their lack of spending. Manager Chris Powell has not had a huge budget to wield since promotion from League One and last season’s finish of ninth was achieving above their resources.

“So far the biggest issue for the Addicks has been their lack of goals – they have netted the least in the division. Defensively they tend to look solid but it is supplying creativity and hitting the back of the net that has been the main issue, despite both the playing personnel and formation being tinkered with.

“Their away has been quite good - it’s at The Valley, where the pitch is poor, that they have tended to struggle for results. Playing on the road suits them because there is less onus on them to take the initiative offensively. I think the final score will be a 1-1 draw.”

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Ferguson said in his book he did everything to bring PDC to UTD, he said his character was top class.

Gartside wouldn't appoint him though, he'd be thinking in a few weeks he could be twatting me.

Expect another geek in a suit.

I'm expecting a repeat of the Doncaster match.

Charlton sound like a pathetic side this season. I can just hear the messages of high spirits on GMR driving away from the stadium, like we've finally turned a corner.

I wont be satisfied until we win three games on the bounce, the manager has been doing a ''Coyle'' and been saying we're turning around a corner for months but hasn't stuck to his word.

I'm not happy with him playing a lone striker as it is, that's probably why we can't win three on the bounce, too negative !!

doffcocker wrote:I'm expecting a repeat of the Doncaster match.

Charlton sound like a pathetic side this season. I can just hear the messages of high spirits on GMR driving away from the stadium, like we've finally turned a corner.

I agree, I think we should comfortably beat Charlton, but with our poor consistency, anything can happen.

Where's the chatbox ?

terenceanne wrote:Where's the chatbox ?

??? Can't find it either.

terenceanne wrote:Where's the chatbox ?

Just thinking the same myself.

We've been abandoned!   

Hopefully it will come up soon ..... I only have the BBC text .....and that's a good 10 minutes behind play.

Mods off to the pub for a quick pint I guess.

4:18 Dangerous play by André Moritz (Bolton Wanderers). (WTF is that?)
4:18 Richard Wood (Charlton Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

5:45 Attempt missed. Dale Stephens (Charlton Athletic) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Yann Kermorgant.

Bolton Wanderers
24 Lonergan
17 McNaughton
15 Baptiste
18 Danns
04 Mills
05 Ream
07 Eagles
06 Spearing
26 Mason
14 Moritz
27 Lee
Substitutes
10 Beckford
11 Hall
12 Knight
16 Davies
21 Pratley
37 Lee-Barrett
44 Kamara
Charlton Athletic
12 Alnwick
20 Solly
16 Wiggins
08 Stephens
05 Morrison
15 Wood
23 Wilson
24 Cousins
18 Kermorgant
09 Church
32 Stewart
Substitutes
02 Hughes
03 Evina
06 Dervite
07 Green
14 Pritchard
17 Cook
30 Pope